A crackdown on gangs of beggars in Worthing has been hailed a success.

A joint operation by police, town centre traders and local charities has drastically reduced the numbers approaching shoppers for cash. Police stress the aim was to get rid of

organised gangs deliberately drafted into the town centre to target shoppers, not to

victimise the genuine homeless.

For the past few weekends, groups of police have arrived in the town centre to patrol the main shopping areas of Montague Street, South Street and Chapel Road.

They have been supported by traders who report aggressive begging by groups believed to have be brought in by bus or train who change into more ragged clothes in restaurants such as McDonalds before going on to the streets.

Police believe the scam has ended following the crackdown, but stress they will continue to monitor the situation. Shoppers say they have noticed a difference in the town and police say they are satisfied with the results so far.

The scheme was launched following a number of complaints from town centre traders and shoppers about the growing number of people begging on the streets. Both police and the

Worthing Town Centre Initiative stress that as much support as possible

is being given to people in real need of help and part of the aim of

the crackdown was to help them as well as get rid of the bogus beggars.

Town centre manager Claire Potter said the main difficulty was telling the difference between organised groups and the genuine homeless. She said she had complaints nearly every day from traders unhappy about people letting their dogs roam loose in the area and urinating in doorways.

She said: "We do not want to victimise the people who are genuinely in need and there are several support groups and charities in the town who are willing to help. But if someone is aggressively asking for money or causing a disturbance while drunk or who is part of an organised gang, then the police should take action.

Support offered includes hostels and day centres provided by the Worthing Churches Homeless Project, CAB and the National Canine Defence League.

Selden Road resident Michael Bates said: "At the beginning of the year you could not walk through the streets without being approached by people every few yards, some of whom could be quite aggressive. "Things seem to be a lot better now."

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